William Hutcheon Hall

Admiral Sir William Hutcheon Hall (c. 1797 – 25 June 1878), was a British Royal Navy officer. He served in the First Anglo-Chinese War and Crimean War. He was one of the first British officers to make a thorough study of steam engines. In China, he commanded the iron steamship Nemesis of the East India Company. Although it was not officially commissioned as a Royal Navy warship, the Admiralty enabled Hall to count his time in the Nemesis as if he had served in one of Her Majesty's Ships.

Early life and career Hall was born circa 1797 in Berwick, Northumberland, England, to William Hall and his wife Mary (née Hutcheon). He joined the Royal Navy on 24 October 1811 as a first-class volunteer on board under Captains George Byng and John Tremayne Rodd. In 1816–17, he served as a midshipman under Captain Basil Hall, with whom he attended William Amherst's embassy visit to China. After returning to England in November 1817, he was appointed to the frigate, , under Captain Robert Mends in the West Africa Squadron. He was later promoted as master of the sloop. In this rank, he served in the British West Indies, Mediterranean, and Home stations until 1836. After studying steam engines in Glasgow, Scotland, and on board steamers trading to Ireland, he travelled to the United States, where he was employed in steamboats on the Delaware and Hudson.

China In November 1839, Hall obtained command of Nemesis of the British East India Company in China, where he served in the First Anglo-Chinese War (1839–42). The ship's first engagement was against Chinese forts and a fleet of junks in the Second Battle of Chuenpi on 7 January 1841. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his part in the battle. He later fought in the Battle of First Bar on 27 February, and the Broadway expedition on 13–15 March. In commemoration of his service, he was commonly known in the navy as "Nemesis Hall". Under the command of Richard Collinson, then Lieutenant Hall also saw action on the island of Taisam near Ningbo in February 1842 on the Nemesis. He was promoted captain with seniority on 22 October 1842.

Russia After the outbreak of the Crimean War (1853–56) against Russia, Hall was not able to obtain command of a vessel corresponding to his seniority, so on 15 March 1854 he accepted the 6-gun paddle steamer, , which was engaged in the Baltic and was again Mentioned in Despatches, and slightly wounded. He transferred to the 72-gun in November 1854, and in 1855 was engaged in the capture of Bomarsund, among other battles. Hall was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 5 July 1855.

Works and later life

Hall was one of the first British officers to make a thorough study of steam engines. was promoted a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 13 March 1867, and was promoted (on the retired list) to vice admiral on 26 July 1869, and admiral on 11 December 1875. He died of apoplexy at Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, London, on 25 June 1878, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Lawrence's Church, Mereworth, Kent, on 29 June.

Selected works Bernard, W. D.; Hall, W. H. (1844). Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis from 1840 to 1843. Vol. 1 / Vol. 2. London: Henry Colburn. Bernard, W. D.; Hall, W. H. (1845). Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis from 1840 to 1843 (2nd ed.). London: Henry Colburn. Bernard, W. D.; Hall, W. H. (1847). The Nemesis in China (3rd ed.). London: Henry Colburn. Hall, W. H. (1852). Sailors' Homes, Their Origin and Progress. London: W. H. Dalton. Hall, W. H. (1876). Our National Defences.